Power-driven can opener



May 22, 1951 G. PAROVEL POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER Filed March 9, 1948 INVENTOR G. Para q eZl ATTORNEYS Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE POWER-DRIVEN CAN OPENER Giovanni Parovel, Sacramento, Calif.

Application March 9, 1948, Serial No. 13,825 4 Claims. (01. 30-4) This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a novel can opener; the device being hand supported for convenient use, yet power driven for fast, clean, and effective can opening operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable, power actuated can opener which includes a driven rotary anvil, and a cooperating cutting disc adjustable relative to said rotary anvil; all in novel assembly.

A further object of the invention, is to provide a can opener, as in the preceding paragraph, in which said adjustment of the cutting disc is accomplished from a trigger, the latter being mounted for ready access by the index finger of the hand in which the devic is grasped for use.

An additional object is to provide the device with a housing shaped to form a hand grip by means of which manipulation of said device is accomplished conveniently.

It is also an object to provide novel drive mechanism for the rotary anvil and cutting disc; said drive mechanism being designed to permit the cutting disc to be adjusted without interfering with the drive.

A further object of the invention is to produce a practical and reliable device and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device showing the parts in their initial or starting position.

Figure 2 is a similar view but shows the cutting disc as lowered into can engagement.

Figure 3 is a front end view of the device.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the slide block detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the power driven can opener comprises a relatively small, elongated housing I which is of oval configuration in cross section whereby to provide for convenient hand engagement, i. e. to provide a hand grip. The housing I is initially of two longitudinal sections, which are secured together by cross screws 2.

A longitudinal shaft 3 extends through the housing I, and at its forward end is carried in a bearing 4. At the front end of the device, and

2 outwardly of the bearing 4, the shaft 3 is fitted with a rotary anvil 5 which is peripherally serrated as shown.

Adjacent its rear end the shaft 3 is carried in a bearing 6 and beyond the bearing carries a gear 'I. The gear I includes an axially and rear-- wardly projecting spindle 8 which is connected by a detachable coupling 9 with a flexible driveshaft Ill. The drive shaft Ill derives its power from any suitable source, such asa small electric motor (not shown).

Above the rotary anvil 5 the device is provided with a cutting disc I I disposed, with its axis parallel to the axis of the rotary anvil 5, slightly outwardly of the latter. The cutting disc I I is carried on a rearwardly projecting spindle I2 journaled in a bearing I3 carried in a bearing boss I4 of a vertical, forwardly facing slide block I5. The slide block I5 is mounted for vertical adjustment in guide channels I6 on opposite ends of a hood H which encloses the slide block I5 and cutting disc II from above; the lower edge of the hood I! terminating some distance above the rotary anvil 5.

The slide block I5 is normally in a raised starting position, as in Fig. 1, and in this position the low point of the cutting disc I I is above the high point of the rotary anvil 5. This permits the upper rim I8 of a can I9 to be seated on top of the rotary anvil 5 with the latter bearing against the side of the can, as shown in Fig. 1.

The slide block I5 is lowered, forcefully, to cause the cutting disc I I to initially bite through the top of the can, by means of th following arrangement:

A trigger 20 is pivoted, as at 2|, in connection with the housing I at the bottom thereof adjacent the front end. The trigger 25 extends forwardly of its pivot 2| and is there pivotally connected, as at 22, with the lower end of an upstanding pull yoke 23. At its upper end the pull yoke 23 is pivoted, as at 24, to the rear end of a link 25 which extends across the slide block I5 to a pivotal anchor 26 in the hood IT. A cross pin 21 extends through the link 25, and said cross pin is carried, at its ends, in upstandin ears 28 on the upper end of the slide block I5.

Thus, upon rearward swinging motion of the trigger 20, the yoke 23 is pulled downward correspondingly lowering th slide block I5 and cutting disc II whereby to force the latter through the top of a can I9 inwardly of its anvil supported rim I8; all in the manner as shown in Fig. 2.

The cutting disc II is driven by the following mechanism:

} Another gear 29 is disposed in the housing I at its rear end and runs in mesh with the gear I. The gear 29 includes a stem 30 projecting forwardly through a bearing 3| to connection with a flexible shaft section 32. The flexible shaft section 32 extends forwardly to splined connection, as at 33, with the rear end of the cutting disc spindle I2. The flexible shaft section 32 permits the slide block I5 to be adjusted vertically with the cutting disc I I without in any Way interfering with the drive for the latter.

To use the above described power driven can opener, a person grasps the housing I and then engages the rotary anvil 5 beneath the rim I8 of a can I9. Next, the trigger 2B is pulled rear wardly causing the cutting disc II to lower and perforate the top of the can in the manner hereinbefore described. Thereafter, the rotary anvil 5 rotates the can relative to the cutting disc II, the latter severing the top from said can. As the cutting disc II is driven, the cutting operation is accomplished more easily than otherwise.

A return spring S urges the slide block from below upward to the uppermost or starting position, when the trigger is released.

With the described device, cans can be openedrapidly and conveniently with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator. Additionally, the structure of the device is such that it provides a can opener which is reliable, the simplicity of the structure assuring of a minimum of maintenance or repair.

Fromthe foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invening shaped to form a hand grip, a feed wheel at the front end of the housing, a cutter wheelabove; and in front of the feed wheel, the axes of said; wheels being lengthwise of the housing, apair of superimposed gears mounted in the housing atits rear end and meshing with each other, a flexible power driven shaft extending rearwardly from the housing and connected to one gear, a-shaft rigidly connecting the lower gear and feed wheel and journaled at its ends in the'housing, a-fiexible shaft unit connecting the upper gear and cutter wheel, means in the housing mounting said cutter 4 wheel for vertical movement to and from the feed wheel, a spring acting on the mounting means in a direction to hold the cutter wheel away from the feed wheel, and hand actuated means operable by a finger of the hand grasping the grip to lower the mounting means.

2. A can opener as in claim 1, in which said hand actuated means includes a finger trigger rojeeungrmm the underside of the housing adjacement its forward end.

A can opener comprising an elongated housing shaped to form a hand grip, a feed wheel at the front end of the housing, a cutter wheel above and in front of the feed Wheel, the axes of said wheels be'ing lengthwise of the housing, a pair of superimposed gears mounted in the housing at its rear end and meshing with each other, aflxible' power driven shaft extending rearwardly from the housing and connected to one gear, a; shaft rigidly connecting the lower gear and feed wheel and journaled at its ends in the housing, a stub spindle rigid with the cutter wheel and projecting into the housing, a flexible shaft unit connecting the upper gear and spindle, a transverse mounting block for the spindle, slidably mounted in the housing for vertical movement, a spring acting on the block to raise the same, an arm: pivoted at its forward end in the housing ahead of the block and overhanging and connectedto said block, and hand means applied to the arm to swing the same down and thus lower the block'and including an actuating finger element' projecting from the housing adjacent its forward end.

4. A can opener as in claim 3, in which said handmeans comprises a yoke connected to the free end ofthe arm and depending in straddling relation to and past the flexible shaft unit and first named shaft, and a finger trigger pivoted in and projecting; from the underside of the housing andconnected to the lower end of the yoke to pull downon the same upon a rearward pull being impartedto the trigger. v

GIOVANNI PAROVEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in" the file of this patent:

UNITED" STATES PATENTS 

